Introduction

Designers and engineers of solar energy conversion systems need solar resource
information for different locations and types of collectors. Solar resource
information provides data on how much solar energy is available to a collector
and how it might vary from month to month and year to year.

This manual provides solar radiation values for common flat-plate and
concentrating collectors for 239 stations in the United States and its
territories. The solar radiation values are expressed as monthly and yearly
averages for the period of 1961-1990. Minimum and maximum monthly and yearly
averages are included to show the variability of a station's solar resource.

In addition to the solar radiation data, this manual contains tables listing
climatic conditions such as average temperatures, average daily minimum and
maximum temperatures, record minimum and maximum temperatures, average heating
and cooling degree days, average relative humidity, and average wind speed.

The solar radiation and climatic data are presented in tables, with each
station having its data presented on a single page.